elves: Indic counterpart?

[Valerie J Roebuck]

It's certainly easier to see Galadriel as a vidyaadharii than as an
apsaras (or a yak.sii).  But wouldn't the Wizards (as portrayed by
Tolkien, as semi-divine beings) perhaps be siddhas?

Valerie J Roebuck
Manchester, UK

At 2:51 am -0600 8/2/05, Matthew Kapstein wrote:
>aspects of yak.sa-lore seem relevant, too, particularly
>associations with vegetation and wealth,
>though they have a malevolent side which would
>not do for Tolkein's elves (though perhaps accords
>with the mythology more generally).
>On this, of course, see Coomaraswamy.
>
>And what of the vidyaadharas and siddhas, as known
>in the epics? Elvish longevity and command of wonders
>might incline one to favor the vidyaadharas here.